The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 23%, including the elimination of its Office of Research and Development. This action will result in the layoffs of hundreds of scientists, including chemists, biologists, and toxicologists. The EPA's scientific research arm, which provides independent research underpinning much of the agency's work, will be closed as part of a broader federal workforce reduction and agency restructuring. The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that permits the Trump administration to cut federal staff and dismantle agencies. The workforce reduction will affect over 3,700 employees, raising questions about the potential implications for environmental policy and research.